Synergetic modulation on structure and interface enables bimetallic phosphide nanoarrays for advanced aqueous zinc batteries

Aqueous zinc batteries characterized by low-cost, high-capacity and high-safety are exciting for the energy storage sector, and the high-performance cathode plays a vital role for the commercialization. Herein, an in situ interfacial modification strategy is presented to construct high-performance cathode (N-NCP@POx) with ultra -thin amorphous phosphate interfacial coating for alkaline zinc batteries. The in situ amorphous phosphate layers are beneficial to the adsorption and deprotonation of OH- confirmed by first-principles calculations, and are superior interfacial layers to protect the active species from passivation. This elaborate design enables the interface and structures synergistic effect endowing the electrode of N-NCP@POx with remarkable energy storage capability and electrochemical stability. As results, the full cell of N-NCP@POx//Zn alkaline zinc batteries deliver outstanding specific capacity (358.3 mAh/g at 1 A/g), rate performance (132.2 mAh/g at 20 A/g) and cyclic stability (94% retention after 6000 cycles at 10 A/g). This study will stimulate further development of transition metal phosphides with amorphous interface layers as high performance cathode for energy storage devices.

Automated summary

An in-situ interfacial modification strategy is presented to construct a high-performance cathode (N-NCP@POx) for alkaline zinc batteries, which features an ultra-thin amorphous phosphate interfacial coating. The amorphous phosphate layers are beneficial for the adsorption and deprotonation of OH-, and protect the active species from passivation. The N-NCP@POx electrode exhibits remarkable energy storage capability and electrochemical stability, with outstanding specific capacity, rate performance, and cyclic stability.